Bed-and-cylinder printing-press.



A. T. H. BROWER. BED AND CYLINDER PRINTIN" PRESS.

APPLIUATIOH FILED JUNE 10, @908.

Patented June 11, 1912.

4 BHEETS-SHEET 1.

wilwoses:

addm JMIMA,

coumnu PLANOGRAPII cu. \VASIHNGYON. n. c

A. T. H. BROWER. BED AND CYLINDER PRINTING PRESS.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 10, 1908.

Patented June 11,1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAFH co.,wAsmNaToN, n. c.

A. T. H. BROWER. BED AND CYLINDER PRINTING PRESS.

m 6 WM/ m M m i m 4% 6 0 a/W /2 9 r coLulllnA PLANOGIAPH 60.,WASHINOTON, n. c.

A. T. H. BROWER. BED AND GYLINDBB PRINTING PBES8.

. APPLIOATIOH FILED JUNE 10, 1908. 1,029,100. 0 Patented June 11,1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 50.. WASHINGTON. n. c.

ABRAHAM T. H. BROWER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BED-AND-CYLINDER PRINTING-PRESS.

Original application filed July 20, 1906, Serial No. 328,984.

Serial No. 437,674.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1912.

Divided and this application filed June 10,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABRAHAM T. H. Bnownn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bed-and- Cylinder Printing-Presses, of which I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This application is a division of an application filed by me July 20, 1906, Serial No. 326,964.

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a bed-and-cylinder press embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view (parts being shown in section) illustrating the mechanism beneath the bed of the press. Fig. 3 is a view in vertical cross section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. & is a. detail view in vertical section on .line 4% of Fig. 3, illustrating more particularly one of the cam shoes, or reversing shoes of the press. Fig. 5 is a view in vertical longitudinal section on line o f) of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a View in vertical longitudinal section on line 66 of Fig. 3.

A designates the main frame of the machine whereby the bed B and the cylinder 0 are sustained. The bed B is mounted to reciprocate over the ways a of the main frame A and the cylinder C is carried by shaft 0 that is journaled in uprights at the sides of the main frame and is provided at one end with a gear wheel 15 that meshes with the gear wheel 16 keyed to one of the sections 17 of the bed rack pinion shaft. The other section 18 of the bed rack pinion shaft extends from the opposite. side of the machine to a point adjacent its center and the sections 17 and 18 are suitably journaled in bearings on the main frame. The section 17 of the bed rack pinion shaft has fixed to it adjacent its inner end a beveled gear wheel 19 and similarly a beveled gear wheel 20 is fixed adjacent the inner end of the bed rack pinion shaft section 18, and these beveled gear wheels 19 and 20 are connected together by a beveled gear wheel 21 that is journalcd in a suitable bearing 22 of the main frame. To the extreme inner ends of the sections 17 and 18 of the bed rack pinion shaft are keyed respectively the bed rack pinions 23 and 24 that are arranged in close proximity and will travel in opposite directions.

Upon the under side of the bed B the bed rack 25 is mounted in a manner permitting it to be shifted at right angles to the path of movement of the bed, in order that the bed rack 25 may be brought into position to engage either of the bed rack pinions 23 or '24. As shown the bed rack 25 is formed with dovetailed channels 26 adjacent its ends (see Fig. that engage corresponding dovetailed ribs 27 upon the under side of the bed B, and the ribs 27 thus support the rack 25 while allowing it to be shifted transversely of the bed. By reference more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings it will be seen that when revolution is imparted to one of the sections of the bed rack pinion shaft the bed rack pinions and 24 will revolve in opposite directions and the bed B will be driven either forward or backward accordingly as it is in engagement with one or the other of these pinio-ns. The pinion 23 serves to impart; the forward or printing movement to the bed B while the pinion '24 imparts to the bed B the backward or idle movement. Inasmuch as the cylinder shaft C is directly geared to the gear wheel 16 of the bed rack pinion shaft section 17, the danger of lost motion or of inaccuracy of movement between the bed and cylinder is materially less than in the constructions in which the bed rack pinion shaft is not thus directly geared to the shaft of the cylinder. Moreover, inasmuch as the bed rack 25 is located above the pinions 23 and 24L and as close as possible to the bed B a more direct and positive application of power is transmitted from the bed rack pinion shaft to the bed than is possible with constructions in which the bed rack is suspended at a distance beneath the bed. The bed rack pinion 24 which imparts the return or idle movement to the bed is driven from the section 17 of the bed rack pinion shaft through the in termediate beveled gearing shown but the presence of such intermediate gearing is not believed to be detrimental for effecting rack pinion shaft.

the return movement of the bed since during such movement the same accurate coincidence between the bed and cylinder is not required as upon the forward or printing movement of the bed.

In order to effect a transverse shift of the bed rack 25 to cause it to engage with one or the other of the bed rack pinions 23 and 24, the mechanism next to be described is preferably employed. By reference more particularly to Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings, it will be seen that through the lower portions of the bars 28 that extend from the bed rack 25 are formed slots through which passes a shifter bar 30 (see Figs. 2, 3 and 5) the slotted ends of which bar are pivotally connected as at 31 to crank arms 32; each of these crank arms being carried by its corresponding shaft 33 that is journaled in a bracket 34 at the corresponding end of the main frame. The lower end of each of the short vertical shafts 33 has keyed thereto a beveled pinion 35 that meshes with the beveled gear 36 mounted upon the shaft 37 that is journaled in suitable bars 38 at the end of the main frame. Each of the shafts 37 has keyed thereto at one end a crank arm 40 and the slotted lower ends of the crank arms 40 united by a connecting bar 41 (see Fig. 5) that extends from end to end of the machine. The bar 41 is slotted adjacent its center and through this portion of the bar 41 pass sev' eral shafts to be presently described. From the side of the bar 41 projects a stud 42 that enters a cam shaped groove 50 that is formed in the side of the gear wheel 51, this gear wheel being mounted upon the shaft 52 (see Figs. 3 and 5) journaled in bearings of the main frame. Revolution is imparted to the gear wheel 51 by pinion 54 that is mounted upon the shaft 55. The shaft 55 has keyed thereto a gear Wheel 56 that meshes with a pinion 57 upon the section 18 of the bed Hence, it will be seen that as the bed rack pinion shaft sections have revolution imparted thereto, revolution will be transmitted from the shaft section 18 and its pinion 57 to the gear wheel 56, the shaft 55 and the gear Wheel 51, and as the gear wheel 51 is thus revolved, the cam groove 50 in the side of this gear wheel will cause the shifter rod 41 to travel back and forth as will be clearly seen by reference to Fig. 5 of the drawings. As the rod 41 is thus shifted, it will in turn rock the crank arms 40 and the shaft 37 thereby causing the beveled gear wheels 35 and 36 to rock the short vertical shafts 33 and cause the cranks 32 at the upper ends of said shafts to move transversely the shifter bar 30. As the shifter bar 30 is thus moved (see Fig. 3) it will produce a corresponding transverse movement of the bed rack 25 thereby causing this rack to leave the path of one of the bed rack pinions 24, for example, and pass into position to engage the other bed rack pinion 23 or vice versa. It will be understood, of course, that this shifting of the bed rack 25 will be effected when the bed completes its movements and after the rack 25 is free from engagement with the piniens.

As shown, there are four gear wheels cor responding to the gear wheel 56 above described, two of these gear wheels receiving revolution from the section 18 of the bed rack pinion shaft and the other two of such gear wheels receiving revolution from the section 17 of the bed rack pinion shaft. The construction and arrangement of these gear wheels will be understood by reference more particularly to Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 6 of the drawings. Thus, by reference to Fig. 6, it

will be seen that with the pinion 57 on the,

section 18 of the bed rack pinion shaft. meshes the gear wheel 56 and the corresponding gear wheel 60 and by reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 it will be seen that gear wheels 61 and 62 mesh with the pinion 63 that is mounted upon the section 17 of the bed rack pinion shaft. The gear Wheels 61 and 62 are the same in construction as the gear wheels 56 and 60 shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, and like these gear wheels are provided each with a cam groove 64 upon its inner face. The gear wheel 60 is mounted upon a shaft 66, and the gear wheels 61 and 62 are mounted respectively upon the shafts 67 and 68, these several shafts being journaled in bearings of the main frame. Beneath the gear wheels 56 and 60 extend the shafts 70 and 71 that carry respectively the rock arms 72 and 73, and similarly beneath the gear wheels 61 and 62 extend the shafts 74 and 75 that carry respectively the rock arms 76 and 77. Each of the rock arms 72, 73, 76 and 77 has a stud 78 projecting from its side and entering the cam shaped groove 64 of the adjacent gear-wheel 56, 60, 61 or 62. To the upper end of each of the rock arms 72, 73, 76 and 77 is pivotally connected the inner end of a rod 80 and the outer end of this red is pivoted as at 81 to a lever 82 that is mounted upon a shaft 83 at the end of the main frame. To the upper end of each of the levers 82 is pivoted as at 84 the outer end of the stem 83 of a piston 86 that closes the end of a dash-pot 87 located at the top of the main frame of the machine. As shown, there are four of these dash-pots 87 and each is equipped with a piston 86 and parts connected thereto as shown more particularly in Figs. 2 and 6 of the drawings. The open inner end of each of the dash-pots 87 is adapted to receive a plunger 90, the stem 91 of which is fixed to a block or bar 92 depending from the under side of the bed B. In order to equalize the compression within the dash-pot 87 at each end of the main frame, when plural dashpots are used, they may be connected together as by a pipe 94 or hollow rods may be employed for the plunger-s 90, these hollow rods being connected together by a suitable pipe or channel so that when the plungers enter the dash-pots there will be a free passage of air from one dash-pot to the other, thus equalizing the resistance in the dash-pots. hen the dash-pots are connected by pipe 94 such pipe will enter them at a point slightly in advance of the pistons 86.

My purpose in providingthe dash-pots 87 with movable pistons 80 and in providing suitable means such for example, as the cam-wheels 56. 60, &c.. for imparting movement to the pistons 86 is to give to the bed of the press a return impetus immediately after the bed reversing mechanism (to be presently described) has checked themomentum of the bed and the parts are in such position that the reverse movement of the bed may be effected. The gear wheels 56. 60. 61 and 62 have their movements so timed with respect to the travel of the bed and the cam groove 64 of each of these gear wheels is so shaped that when the bed B reaches the end of its travel in either direction and its momentum has been checked by the reversing mechanism (to be presently described) and by the dash-pots already described, the cam 64 of the gear wheels 56. 00, 61 and 02 will impart an inward movement to the pistons 86 and will cause these pistons to exert a corresponding thrust upon the plunger-s 00 that are attached to the under side of the bed B thereby giving quick initial movement to the bed which will not only materially increase its speed but will also save the teeth of the bed rack and the bed rack pinions from the excessive strain incident to an engagement of the bed rack and its pinions when the latter are driven at a very high speed. The volume of air compressed within the dash-pots between the plungers 90 and the pistons 86 will be found a most effective medium through which to transmit the inward thrust of the pistons 86 to the bed.

While any of the usual means may be employed for checking and reversing the bed 13 at the ends of its movement. I prefer to employ the novel construction of reversing mechanism next described. My improved reversing shoe is shown as comprising wheels 100 and 101 that are mounted upon the sections 17 and 18 of the bed rack pinion shaft. Each of these wheels 100 and 101 is formed with a cam groove 102 cxtending across its face and into each of these cam grooves 102 projects a stud or trunnion 103 that is carried by an arm 104- depending from the underside of the bed B. The ends of the cam grooves 102 are formed flaring so as to facilitate the entrance of the studs 103 into these grooves. The first half of the grooves or cam ways are so shaped that they serve to slow down the bed while carrying it on so that the rack shall leave the rack pinion after which the rack will be laterally shifted. The second half of the cam grooves or ways is a reverse of the first half so that when the bed movement has been checked it will be reversed with a movement that gradually increases until it approximately equals the maximum speed at which it is intended to travel and at which time it will be delivered to the bed rack pinion. As shown motion is imparted to the gear wheel 16 on the outer end of the bed rack pinion shaft. from a pinion 110 that is fixed to a short drive shaft 111 that has its inner end journaled in the side of the main frame A and in a standard 112 that rises at one side of the main frame: and upon the drive shaft 111 are mounted the fast and loose pulleys 113 and 114 adapted to receive a driving belt (not shown).

From the construction of parts as thus far described. it will be seen that when revolution is imparted to the drive shaft 111. motion will be transmitted therefrom by the pinion 110 and gear wheel 10 to the bed rack pinion shaft section 17 and from the gear wheel 16 to the gear 15 and cylinder C. During the forward or printing movement of the bed B its rack 25 will be in engagen'ient with the gear 25% at the inner end of the section 17 of the bed rack pinion shaft and hence it will be seen that the bed rack pinion shaft and the cylinder shaft will be united by one pair of gear wheels so that during the forward or print ing movement of the bed the gearing between the cylinder and bed is reduced to a minimum and the danger of lost motion between these parts is rendered much less than would be the case if intermediate gearing were employed between the gear wheels upon the cylinder shaft and the bed rack pinion shaft. 30 also it will be seen that inasmuch as the bed ract 25 is mounted beneath the bed 13 the power would be most effectively and directly applied to the bed from the bed rack pinion shaft. It will be understood. of course. that during the forward or printing movement of the bed its rack 25 will be in engagement with the gear wheel 23 on the inner end of the bed rack pinion shaft section 17; but as the bed 13 approaches the end of its travel in a forward direction its studs or trunnions 103 (see Fig. 4) will pass into the cam grooves 102 of i the reversing shoes or wheels 100 and 101 and the movement of the bed in forward direction will thus be arrested and immediately ther after the reversing shoes or wheels 100 and 101 will occupy such position as to aid in starting the bed B upon its return or idle movement. The cam-wheels 56,

60, 61 and 62 will occupy such positions with respect to the sections 17 and 18 of the bed rack pinion shaft and consequently with respect to the reversing shoes or wheels 100 and 101 that as soon as the studs or trunnions 103 have passed half way through the cam grooves of the reversing shoes or wheels 100 and 101 the cam ways or grooves 64 in the wheels 56, 60, 61 and 62 will cause the studs 78 to rock the arms 72 and through the medium of the rods 80 to rock the arms 82 thereby causing the pistons 86 to move inward so to exert a quick initial pres sure upon the plungers 90 and give a reversing impetus or initial movement to the bed B.

It will. be understood, of course, that the cam gmoves 64 of the wheels 56 and 61 at one side of the center of the press (see Fig. 6) are arranged in a position reverse to that of the cam grooves 64 in the wheels 60 and 62, as the wheels 56 and 61 perform their function of imparting an initial impetus to the bed when the bed is in the position shown in Fig. 6, while the wheels 60 and 62 perform a similar function when the bed is at the opposite end of its travel. By thus giving to the bed immediately after it has been arrested by the reversing shoes a quick initial movement, the bed rack 25 as it en; gages the pinions 523 or 24 will have such momentum that the strain upon the teeth of the bed rack and the pinions will be very greatly reduced and, consequently, the pinions Q3 and 24.- may be run at a correspondingly higher speed. Hence, without danger of severe strain or breakage of parts, the speed of the press may be materially increased.

By reference to Fig. 5 of the drawings it will be seen that as the bed B reaches the end of its travel in either direction, the bed rack 25 will pass from engagement with the pinions 28 and 24 and at such timethe bed rack 25 will be shifted transversely of the bed through the medium of the rock arms 32, the shifter bar 30, the gear Wheels 35 and 36, the rock arms 40 and the rod 41, the stud 42 of the rod 41 serving to impart to the rod 41 the movement which this stud receives from the cam groove 50 of the wheel 51. The wheel 51 will be so positioned with respect to the bed rack pinion shaft that the cam groove 50 of this wheel 51 will shift the rod 41 at the time that the bed B reaches approximately the end of its travel in either direction and after the bed rack 25 has passed from engagement with the teeth of the driving pinions 23 and 24.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a bed and cylinder printing press, the combination with the main frame and the reciprocating bed, of a transversely movable bar mounted on the main frame and extending longitudinally beneath said bed, a rack mounted upon the under side of said bed, said rack being movable transversely thereof and slidably engaging said bar, a pair of bed rack pinions cooperating with said rack, rotary cam mechanism and connections between said cam mechanism and said bar for shifting the same transversely to alternately engage said rack with said pinions, substantially as described.

2. In a bed and cylinder printing press, the combination with the reciprocating bed, the rotary cylinder and cylinder shaft, of a transversely movable rack mounted upon the under side of said bed, a bed rack pinion shaft formed of two sections arranged in line. two bed rack pinions of the same size fixed to said shaft sections, means operated by one of said shaft sections to rotate the other shaft section in opposite direction, gear mechanism driven from one of said shaft sections for shifting said rack to alternately engage said pinions and two intermeshing gears, one upon said cylinder shaft and one upon one of the sections of said bed rack pinion shaft, substantially as described.

3. In a bed and cylinder printing press, the combination with the reciprocating bed and the rotary cylinder, of a bed rack mounted upon the under side of said bed and movable transversely thereof, a bed rack pinion shaft comprising two sections arranged in line, two bed rack pinions of the same size fixed to the inner ends of said shaft sections, beveled gears directly connecting the inner ends of said shaft sections to rotate the same in'opposite directions, a bar extending longitudinally beneath said bed and slidably engaged by said rack, rotary cam mechanism driven from one of said shaft sections and connections between said cam mechanism and said bar for shifting said bar to move said rack alternately into engagement with said pinions, substan tially as described.

4. In a bed-and-cylinder printing press the combination with the bed of a rack mounted immediately beneath said bed and movable transversely thereof, a bed rack pinion shaft provided with pinions and means for shift-ing the bed rack from one to the other of said pinions comprising a bar extending lengthwise beneath the bed and engaging the bed rack, crank arms connected to said bar, gear mechanism for actuating said crank arms and cam mechanism for imparting movement to said gear mechanism.

5. In a bed-and-cylinder printing press the combination with a main frame and the bed of means for reversing the bed comprising studs carried by the bed, cam-wheels mounted in the main frame and having reversely curved grooves across their faces,

said grooves being arranged to receive said studs, and means for imparting revolution to said cam-Wheels.

6. In a bed and cylinder printing press, the combination with the main frame and the reciprocating bed, of a bed rack pinion shaft comprising two sections arranged in line, a rack on the under side of said bed, pinions fixed to said shaft sections, means for shifting said rack alternately into engagement with said pinions, a pair of reversing cams mounted directly upon said shaft sections and having reverse y curved grooves extending across their faces and a pair of depending arms at each end of said bed having laterally projecting studs arranged to engage the grooves of said reversing cams, substantially as described.

ABRAHAM T. H. BROWER. \Vitnesses G120. P. FISHER, J r., KATHARINE GERLAoH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

